Process for regenerating casks or the like and device for the implementation thereof

ABSTRACT

The object of the invention is a process for regenerating a wooden cask or the like, used in particular for maturing wine, characterized in that it consists in spraying an abrasive against at least a portion of the inside surface of the cask and preferably the entire surface so as to remove the area of wood spoiled by deposits and microorganisms.

This invention relates to a process for regenerating casks or the like as well as a device for the implementation thereof.

Wine is generally matured in wooden casks, in particular made of French oak.

For the remainder of the description, cask is defined as a wooden container that can also be called a butt, barrel, . . . .

After having contained one or more wines, the interior of the staves that form the cask is spoiled on the surface and to a depth of several millimeters (on the order of 0.5 to 2 millimeters) by microorganisms and by an accumulation of organic and/or mineral deposits, such as coloring materials, colloids, scales, sulfates, etc.

The accumulation of deposits plugs the pores of the wood, bringing about a reduction and even a total elimination of gaseous exchanges between the wine and the outside of the cask to obtain a managed oxidation, and totally or partially prevents the wood from releasing various substances that it contains, for example aromas or tannins, into the wine.

The microorganisms that are harmful to the organoleptic qualities of the wine comprise in particular various molds, “acetobacter” bacteria, as well as Brettanomyces yeasts.

To clean the interior of the casks, a first solution consists in carrying out a washing with hot water. This economical solution is very inadequate for restoring the cask's initial functionalities and/or for destroying the microorganisms.

A more radical solution consists in using only new casks. However, this solution is very expensive. In addition, most wines do not have the strength, the structure and the framework that are suitable for supporting the aromatization that is obtained from a new wood.

To be able to reuse used casks, various techniques were then developed.

A first category of techniques relies on chemical processes that aim at dissolving organic and mineral deposits and destroying the microorganisms. However, these processes can hamper the natural production image of the wine, and even, in the worst case, the organoleptic qualities of the wine.

Another technique consists in reconditioning the casks by opening them, by planing the interior so as to find new wood, and by subjecting them to a new heating. This solution, which makes it possible to restore a cask to the new state, is generally relatively expensive, because it requires a new heating.

Also, this invention aims at eliminating the drawbacks of the prior art by proposing a process that makes it possible to regenerate the casks so as to eliminate the microorganisms and to restore the initial functionalities of the wooden cask.

For this purpose, the invention has as its object a process for regenerating a wooden cask or the like, used in particular for maturing wine, characterized in that it consists in spraying an abrasive against at least one portion of the inside surface of the cask, and preferably against the entire surface so as to remove the area of wood that is spoiled by the deposits and the microorganisms.

The invention also proposes a device for implementing the process.

Other characteristics and advantages will emerge from the following description of the invention, a description provided only by way of example, taking into account the accompanying drawings, in which:

FIG. 1 is a cutaway of a portion of a stave of a new cask,

FIG. 2 is a cutaway of a portion of a stave of a cask after one or more wines have matured,

FIG. 3 is a cutaway of a portion of a stave of a cask after having been treated by the process according to the invention,

FIG. 4 is a side elevation view of a device for the implementation of the process according to the invention,

FIG. 5 is a cutaway along line V-V of the device that is illustrated in FIG. 4,

FIG. 6 is a cutaway of a nozzle for the spraying of abrasive elements,

FIG. 7 is a cutaway of another nozzle,

FIGS. 8A and 8B are cutaways that illustrate a hose for the spraying of abrasive elements with a first nozzle in various positions,

FIG. 9 is a cutaway that illustrates a hose for spraying abrasive elements with a second nozzle,

FIG. 10 is a cutaway that illustrates a hose for spraying abrasive elements with a third nozzle.

In the various figures, a wooden cask, in particular made of oak, for maturing wine was shown at 10. In a known way, this cask is produced from staves that are assembled and hooped with a bottom at each end.

For the remainder of the description, a cask is defined as a wooden container that can also be called a butt, barrel,

As illustrated in FIG. 1, the inside surface 12 of the cask is heated so as to make it possible for the wood to send certain aromas to the wine. The interior of the cask is affected by the heating to a depth on the order of several millimeters (on the order of 5 millimeters), indicated by dashes and referenced 14 in FIG. 1.

After having contained one or more wines, the interior of the cask is spoiled on the surface and to a depth of several millimeters by microorganisms and by mineral or organic deposits that are indicated by the area 16 in FIG. 2.

To regenerate a cask, the process of the invention consists in spraying an abrasive against at least one portion of the inside surface of the cask, and preferably the entire surface.

As illustrated in FIG. 3, the process makes it possible to achieve a “scouring” of the inside surface of the cask to a depth on the order of 0.5 to 3 mm, preferably from 0.5 to 1 mm, so as to remove the area 16 of wood that is spoiled by the various deposits. The residues of the treatment (abrasives, deposits, microorganisms, . . . ) are evacuated by gravity and rinsing with cold water.

After draining, a clean and partially decontaminated wood is ready to receive additional sanitization phases, or successively a saturated vapor treatment above 100° C. and a pressurized sulfurous gas treatment. The times of application of the vapor and the sulfurous gas, the pressures, the temperature of the vapor and the dose of SO₂ will be defined after a specific study.

The process does not require new heating to the extent that the withdrawal of material is clearly below the depth affected by the heating.

The process of the invention makes possible:

-   -   The reestablishment of the initial porosity of the wood and         therefore a return of the managed oxidation, essentially         comparable to that of a new cask,     -   An almost total asepsis by the elimination of microorganisms,         whereby the remaining miniscule portion (less than 5%) is         deactivated by the additional sanitization phases,     -   The reestablishment of the diffusion of aromatic molecules that         are present in the wood.

The process makes it possible to reduce this aromatic molecular diffusion phenomenon compared to a new wooden cask that in general proves beneficial to the majority of wines.

The fact of reestablishing the porosity using the abrasive during the “scouring” phase makes it possible to reinforce the effect of additional sanitization phases that would have a limited effect without the “scouring” phase. Thus, there is a synergy between the “scouring” phase and the additional sanitization phases.

According to the invention, the additional sanitization phases make it possible to treat the cask between the staves and to obtain a treatment with a high temperature to a depth on the order of 1 cm using in particular the injection of a pressurized sulfurous gas.

Furthermore, the wood naturally not having the same hardness at the inside surface, said surface is dimpled after the treatment according to the invention, which makes it possible to increase the contact surface between the wine and the wood.

According to another characteristic of the invention, the abrasive is a natural mineral abrasive, preferably purified. Advantageously, the abrasive has a grain size on the order of 400 to 2000 μm, and preferably between 600 and 1500 μm.

According to another characteristic of the invention, the abrasive is propelled with water and/or air at a pressure on the order of 5 to 15 bar, with a percentage of abrasives on the order of 15 to 40%.

According to another characteristic of the invention, the abrasive is sprayed against the inside surface of the cask using a hose 18 that is inserted via the bunghole 20 of the cask. Advantageously, the hose 18 that is able to spray at least one bundle 22 of abrasives is put into motion using a power plant so as to move and to pivot on itself so that said at least one bundle 22 reaches all the portions of the inside surface of the cask.

According to an operating procedure, the cask is arranged so that the staves are approximately horizontal to the bunghole 20 that is arranged at the horizontal median plane, and the hose 10 moves horizontally, by passing via the bunghole, in a direction that is approximately perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of the cask (axis parallel to the staves), indicated by the axis 24 that is also the axis of the hose 18. Simultaneously, the hose 18 pivots on itself along its axis of movement 24.

According to the variants, the hose 18 can emit bundles of abrasives with various degrees of inclination relative to the axis 24 of the hose. Thus, the bundle 22 can have a mean orientation in the extension of the axis 24 of the hose, as illustrated in FIG. 9, at essentially 90° relative to said axis 24, as illustrated in FIG. 10, or at essentially 45° relative to said axis as illustrated in FIGS. 8A and 8B.

So as to orient the bundle or bundles 22 emitted by the hose, the latter comprises a nozzle 26 at its end. If appropriate, this nozzle can have a rectilinear tube to obtain a bundle in the extension of the axis 24.

As illustrated in FIG. 6, the nozzle 26 can comprise a tube 28 that can be connected at one end to the tube of the hose 18 and at the other end to at least one emergent tube 30, and preferably two diametrically opposite emergent tubes, approximately perpendicular to the tube 28 so as to obtain at least one bundle at essentially 90° relative to the axis 24 of the hose.

As illustrated in FIG. 7, the nozzle 26 can comprise a tube 32 that can be connected at one end to the tube of the hose 18 and at the other end to at least one emergent tube 34, and preferably two in the same median plane, with an axis at essentially 135° relative to that of the tube 32 so as to obtain at least one bundle that is at essentially 45° relative to the axis 24 of the hose.

According to one embodiment, the hose 18 comes in the form of a rectilinear tube with means of connection 36, at a first end, to a pipe 38 for feeding fluid and abrasives under pressure, and means of connection, at a second end, to a nozzle 26. Preferably, the connection means 36 allow a relative rotation between the hose 18 and the feed pipe. According to one embodiment, the connection between the hose and the nozzle is obtained using a ring or sleeve 40 that is integral with the nozzle that can be screwed onto an outside threading made at the end of the hose 18.

According to an operating procedure, for a cask, the three nozzles mentioned above are used so as to treat all the areas of the inside surface of the cask. Thus, a nozzle with a bundle in the extension of the axis is used to treat the area of the inside surface that is diametrically opposite the bunghole 20. As a variant, it would be possible not to use the nozzle and to spray the abrasive via the end of the hose.

Below, the cask undergoes a pass with a nozzle with bundles oriented at 90° and another pass with a nozzle with bundles oriented at 45°, whereby the order of passage of the nozzles at 45° and at 90° can vary.

If appropriate, the cask can be subjected to a pass with a nozzle at 45° or 90°, to two passes with a nozzle at 45° and/or a nozzle at 90°, or to several passes.

Pass is defined as a round-trip movement. According to the variants, the spraying of abrasives can be carried out either only on the way out, or upon going out and coming back. In addition, various translational speeds can be provided based on whether or not the abrasives are sprayed. Thus, if the hose sprays the abrasive upon going out a slow speed can be provided, whereas if the abrasive is not sprayed upon coming back, a quick speed can be provided.

In FIGS. 4 and 5, a device for implementing the process according to the invention is shown. It comprises a frame 42 with two approximately parallel beams 44 along which a cross-piece or carriage 46 can move. Stops 48 that are arranged on one of the beams make it possible to adjust the course of the carnage 46.

In FIG. 5, the carriage 46 is shown in detail without a hood.

Teflon rollers 50 are provided to allow the translational motion of the carriage relative to the beams. The movement of the carriage is ensured using a geared motor 52 that comprises a pinion that can engage on a rack carried on one of the beams. However, other technical solutions could be considered to ensure the translational motion of the carriage on the beam(s).

The carriage 46 supports at least one hose 18, and, according to the example illustrated in FIG. 5, two hoses 18.

According to one embodiment, for each hose, the carriage 46 comprises a bearing 54 with a pivoting sleeve 56 in which a hose 18 can be immobilized. At least one power plant 58 is provided to ensure the rotation of the sleeve or sleeves 56. The hose 18 is immobilized relative to the sleeve 56 by any suitable means, in particular using at least one pressure screw. According to the variants, to adjust the positioning of the hose relative to the carriage, the sleeve 56 can be made in two parts that slide into one another. However, other technical solutions can be considered to ensure the connection between the carriage and each hose.

The device also comprises control means 60 that make it possible to monitor and regulate the movements of various moving elements as well as the supply of abrasives and fluid.

As illustrated in FIG. 4, the casks can be carried on a frame 62, called cask support below, comprising rollers mounted in pairs to support the casks and allow them to pivot. One support can support one or more casks.

This type of support makes it possible to drain the dry abrasive by gravity via the bunghole 20. Then, a washing unit is generally provided to make it possible to inject water under low pressure with a high flow rate into the cask via the bunghole so as to evacuate the remaining abrasive.

To collect the casks, it is possible to use a cask support. Thus, the casks to be treated are placed on this support in the wine storehouse. Then, the support is placed in a trailer so as to transport it to the treatment center. During the entire treatment and the return to the wine storehouse, the casks are kept on this support. This process makes it possible to limit the handling of the casks and the risks of falling.

In addition to the device described above, the treatment installation can comprise at least one unit to carry out the additional phases of sanitization, namely means for injecting into the cask water vapor that is saturated at more than 100° C. for a specified period and means for injecting a pressurized sulfurous gas for a specified period.

Of course, the invention is obviously not limited to the embodiment shown and described above, but on the contrary covers all of the variants, in particular regarding the nature of the abrasive, the flow rates, and the pressures that are used. 

1. Process for regenerating a wooden cask or the like, in particular used for maturing wine, characterized in that it consists in spraying an abrasive against at least a portion of the inside surface of the wooden cask so as to remove the area of the wood that is spoiled by deposits and microorganisms.
 2. Process for regenerating a wooden cask or the like according to claim 1, wherein the abrasive is a mineral, natural or purified abrasive.
 3. Process for regenerating a wooden cask or the like according to claim 1, wherein the interior of the wooden cask undergoes a treatment with saturated vapor.
 4. Process for regenerating a wooden cask or the like according to claim 1, wherein the interior of the wooden cask undergoes a treatment with pressurized sulfurous gas.
 5. Process for regenerating a wooden cask or the like according to claim 1, wherein a hose that is introduced via the bunghole (20) of the wooden cask, which is able to move in a direction that is approximately perpendicular to the axis of the wooden cask and to pivot on itself, is used to spray the abrasive in the form of at least one bundle.
 6. Process for regenerating a wooden cask or the like according to claim 5, wherein it consists in making at least two passes with various bundle orientations.
 7. Device for implementing the process for regenerating a wooden cask or the like according to claim 1, wherein it comprises a frame (42) with at least one beam (44) along which a carriage (46) can move, whereby said carriage comprises at least one bearing (54) with a pivoting sleeve (56) in which a hose (18) whose diameter is adapted to that of the bunghole of a wooden cask can be immobilized.
 8. Device according to claim 7, wherein at its end, the hose (18) comprises a nozzle with at least one emergent tube (30) that is oriented so as to spray abrasive in the form of a bundle that is oriented at essentially 90° relative to the axis of said hose (18).
 9. Device according to claim 7, wherein at its end, the hose (18) comprises a nozzle with at least one emergent tube (30) that is oriented so as to spray abrasive in the form of a beam that is oriented at essentially 45° relative to the axis of said hose (18).
 10. Installation for regenerating wooden casks or the like, comprising a device according to claim 7 and at least one unit for carrying out additional sanitization phases.
 11. Installation for regenerating wooden casks or the like, comprising a device according to claim 8 and at least one unit for carrying out additional sanitization phases.
 12. Installation for regenerating wooden casks or the like, comprising a device according to claim 9 and at least one unit for carrying out additional sanitization phases.
 13. Process for regenerating a wooden cask or the like according to claim 2, wherein the interior of the wooden cask undergoes a treatment with saturated vapor.
 14. Process for regenerating a wooden cask or the like according to claim 2, wherein the interior of the wooden cask undergoes a treatment with pressurized sulfurous gas.
 15. Process for regenerating a wooden cask or the like according to claim 2, wherein a hose that is introduced via the bunghole (20) of the wooden cask, which is able to move in a direction that is approximately perpendicular to the axis of the wooden cask and to pivot on itself, is used to spray the abrasive in the form of at least one bundle.
 16. Device for implementing the process for regenerating a wooden cask or the like according to claim 7, wherein it comprises a frame (42) with at least one beam (44) along which a carriage (46) can move, whereby said carriage comprises at least one bearing (54) with a pivoting sleeve (56) in which a hose (18) whose diameter is adapted to that of the bunghole of a wooden cask can be immobilized. 